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How many people are willing to proclaim that they're fans of anime? How many of you would not tell a soul about their interest? And why do you feel the need to hide it?

I personally do not tell people that I am into anime unless I know for certain that they watch anime too. My brother and his friends all watch anime so I can discuss it with them, but I haven't told anyone that I know personally, about my interest. However, I don't mind if people know that I watch American cartoons, like Futurama, or South Park.

I think the biggest reason for me is because of all the incorrect stereotypes associated with the anime subculture. I remember one of my older coworkers referred to anime as "cartoon porn", which I think is completely wrong, or they think it's all just for children and that the anime medium is not capable of more in-depth stories which is a completely inaccurate assessment.

It's nice that now that anime is gaining popularity, more people are gaining understanding of it, but I still feel that the world is really divided between people who like anime, and people who think it's childish/perverted, which can really frustrate me. It seems rare to me for someone to be a "casual" anime watcher. People either like it or they completely misunderstand it. And until anime starts getting a better reputation, I'm going to remain quiet about my secret indulgence.

I don't tell alot of people but a few of my friends all know and since I don't really know anyone who watches anime I have to talk to someone. The people on my house know as well but then they do come in your room when you watch it and to do anything else other than leave it on would be very suspicius.

I agree it does have a bad rep though it's not suprising since most of the anime seen over here is the childrens stuff. To say to people casually that you watch anime would probably have them thinking that you sit at home wathing Pokemon all day or something wearing full pokemon gear. Which suprise is not something I want people to think about me. Neither is the other image so yes I agree anime will say a mostly private thing for me

But I can't wait till the whole world colides together and we see some anime on tv along with the american stuff.(Though I don't think it would work, some anime make you think.)

I'm not afraid of telling people I watch anime. I watch anime on my laptop at university when I have time with people passing by and I have a few anime t-shirts. I've met girls who've called me a perv but honestly it made me laugh not because I was trying to come up with an insult because A) how wrong she is B) the way she said it and C) it turns me on. I guess I just know how to react to people who mock anime, so I'm not really afraid to openly talk about it.

I usually talk about anime to people who I've become friends with in class (not necessarily really close, but enough to know each other, work together, etc.). I dunno...maybe I take pride in trying to be as much of an otaku as I try to be lol.

Almost everybody at my university hardly mocks anime because a good portion of the students there watch anime or read manga. I hear a lot of people talk about manga and I see people reading scanlations on their laptops in study rooms. Maybe it's because of the environment I'm in that I'm not so afraid of showing my animes/talking about them. Being how open I am to anime, I was quite surprised at the amount of people at my university who showed interest in anime, it just makes it easier to keep a conversation going.

If the people you talk to mock you about anime like many people have already in my first year of high school, you just have to know how to respond to them, and it doesn't necessarily mean talking to them and trying to educate them about how wrong they are, but just give them a laugh or a smile, an eye-roll or some kind of gesture and walk on, they'll know they're wrong anyways.

I dont hide it either i just dont scream it out in the world.
In my room i have some Anime figures Anime DVD here and there if i have some guests and they ask why i have such bullshit i just say "you dont have a clue about it"

I dont have many friends here so i usually dont talk about it with others but if someone ask i have more then enought reasons to say why i love to watch anime and to explain them why animes are not just for children.

Iam Proud to be a Anime fan surely i dont un throught the city and scream "yo iam a Anime Fan iand im Proud of it" but im Proud when i can show other people my collection.

I enjoy talking about it with people that have similar interests, but not all of my friends are fans of anime, and that is when I don't really find a good reason to talk about it with them. I show them that I like anime, but it's not like I solely talk about anime and have no life, hehe ^ ^. Let's just say, I am proud of being an anime fan and have no reason to deny it.

Haha great topic. I've had some talks with a friend of mine concerning this aspect of being an anime/manga fan. For me I will openly tell people that I like anime. For me in the past maybe a few years ago I would have been one of those closet anime fans that would be too "embarrassed" to tell anyone. But I've learned that you shouldn't hide the fact because everyone has their own hobbies and the things they like to do.

My friend and I discussed how people might think all anime fans have no life and are all nerdy and really immature. But as I got older I just realize it doesn't matter what other people think and it shouldn't. Anime is a good thing. I feel you can learn a lot from animes if you choose to and look deeper into them and not just be passive and watch the anime for the sake of watching it. If you be more analytical animes show a lot of things to you. But I think i've gone to deep as to answering the question here :P

Right.

I am an anime fan (otaku) and I don't have much to hide. ^^

I tell people if it comes up what I am into. Even if it is old people that dont quite understand what it is. If someone is like--of that is like porn, right? I explain to them what it is and the premise of some of the shows I watch and they usually say it sounds interesting. I have some anime stickers on my car so it would be hard to hide. The only one that doesnt understand is my mom, but she has always been closed minded to everything I do so I really dont care.

I'm the same as most of you... if it comes up yeah I'm open to talk about my love for anime. As far as screaming "I LOVE ANIME!" everywhere I go, I don't quite do that - and I don't have a lot of merch either. I have a couple anime T-Shirts, that's about it.

Casin

How many people are willing to proclaim that they're fans of anime? How many of you would not tell a soul about their interest? And why do you feel the need to hide it?

Why would someone hide their interest?

Casin

I personally do not tell people that I am into anime unless I know for certain that they watch anime too.

That's just stupid. For example - you meet someone new. How would you know if you share the same interest in anime, if you don't ask him (assuming he's as dumb as that not to tell about their interests too)? How do you make friends with him, if you don't talk?

Casin

I think the biggest reason for me is because of all the incorrect stereotypes associated with the anime subculture. I remember one of my older coworkers referred to anime as "cartoon porn", which I think is completely wrong, or they think it's all just for children and that the anime medium is not capable of more in-depth stories which is a completely inaccurate assessment.

So what - afraid of being labeled? Hahahaha! Well, if people label you as a pervert and childish - accept it and prove them wrong by showing them that you're not like that. How you ask? Talk about anime, go and brag to everyone how awesome/interesting/intriguing the shows you watch are. When one of my friends called me pervert i laughed at her face and the next day i showed her an episode of "Death note". Guess what - she's an anime fan now too.

And YES - I am a proud anime fan :)

I don't hide in nor shout it out
When I'm asked, of course I'll reply. But I'd generally not discuss it in public, since it can be a bit humiliating. (at least for myself) I just don't know how to respond properly.

Usually I only discuss it around my fellow anime-fan friends. And also other people who are interested in Japanese culture.

So yeah, you may call me a "closet anime lover" ;)

I prance around my campus in cosplay to advertise my anime club. I'm pretty sure I'm a proud anime fan ^_^

I might not go out of my way to say it but if it comes up i have no qualms about it

I have no reason to hide it, even though only 1 of my friends watch anime. I don't show it too much, I don't do cosplay or anything like it, I just enjoy watching anime :D

I'm extremely proud of my status as an anime fan. It's one of the very few things that has kept me alive until this day.

Mentally alive, hah. A lot of my friends watch anime or read manga, which makes me feel quite happy. ^^ In the past, I've never been one to show my love and interest in anime. Now that I discovered most of my friends love it, I feel no need to hide my love in anime anymore. I have enough courage [in my courage meter, hah] to be able to shout it out and wave around my shiny new Fullmetal Alchemist volume. 8D Despite my size (*ahem*), I'm pretty tough (mentally and physically), and I simply don't need any more concern about labels. I'm asian. So what; does that make me good at math? I wear glasses; does that make me a nerd? I like anime; does that make me perverted and childish? No, and I simply don't care. I love my friends, and they are the only people I care about at school. ♥ I have no care for people who tease me for being simply myself. (Other than the teachers chasing me down because I fill in questionnaires with ridiculous information >8D. I have a habit of filling in questionnaires with "information that is so ridiculous". Once, I had to fill in a poem; the line said: I will never _______ (x2). LOL and I inserted "I will never smoke/take drugs" in there. Hahahaha~ I love doing that. ^^)

The biggest problem with being an anime fan is the typical phrase, "Anime is childish cartoons", at least to me. For one, I could never learn the same lessons or have the same experiences with life through anything else. Movies, novels, comics. They all lack depth to me. (Notice I am saying "to me" because I have insight quite different than most people I encounter.) To me, I'm not the kind of person that is easily satisfied, though I am not spoiled. Now that I found anime is one of my best interests, it's difficult to drop it; it's almost as if I'm distrusting a best friend, just because someone else doesn't approve of me liking it. (And someone DOES disapprove of my interest in anime. My TRUST in anime.)

This is a great topic, actually. I'm really glad someone brought it up. When I was viewing the forums page, I STRAIGHT-UP KNEW I WAS GOING TO COMMENT ON THIS ONE. And I did. ♥

I agree w/ most of the fellow repliers in this forum. why would you hide your interest? there is no reason to hide your interest. showing what your interested in shows part of who you are. the only reason i can think of on not showing your interest is bc maybe you are afraid of part of who you are. as for me maybe i could b in this category from what i say and i say this bc i dont let it b known but i dont hide it either. its just part of me. yes i talk bout it in public and would proudly display it on a shirt, folder, or what ever. but i dont. im more if you want to talk bout it and b known then ok if not then ok. thats your thing. but it would make me think that maybe your afraid of showing me part of who you are if i were to meet u. which would make me think what else are you hiding. you know what i mean. however, i am a proud anime fan. i have always love anime and always will.